National Rugby League star Hayne to plead innocent to charge

Sydney - A lawyer for Jarryd Hayne has told a court the
National Rugby League star intends to plead innocent to a charge of sexual
assault.

The 30-year-old former rugby league international appeared on Monday in Burwood Local Court and had his case adjourned to February 13 in
Newcastle Local Court, north of Sydney.

Hayne's bail was extended.

His lawyer, Richard Pontello, was quoted by the Australian
Associated Press as saying Hayne "maintains his innocence. A plea of not
guilty will be entered."

Hayne, who spent a season with the San Francisco 49ers in
the NFL before returning to rugby league via a brief stint with Fiji's rugby
sevens squad in 2016, was charged last month over the alleged sexual assault of
a 26-year-old woman in Newcastle on September
30, the night of the NRL final between Sydney Roosters and Melbourne
Storm.